CHAP. VII.] AND CHARACTER. Ill 



traveller who may happen to arrive on a Sunday, 

 which must sometimes take place in a country where 

 one entirely depends upon the natives. Highly as I 

 appreciate the merits of the missionaries, I must say 

 that they have omitted to teach their converts some 

 most important social, and therefore moral duties, 

 which they will only acquire by a more intimate 

 intercourse with civilized Europeans. 



In their native state they are as laborious as their 

 wants require ; but, easily satisfying those, and un- 

 able, even by their utmost exertions, to compete with 

 the lowest of Europeans, they get lazy and indolent, 

 prefer begging to working, and pass a great part of 

 their time in showing their acquired fineries and 

 contemplating the restless doings of the colonist. As 

 servants they are very independent, and Europeans 

 will do well, if they want any native helps, to treat 

 them with attention, and rather as belonging to the 

 family than as servants. They have this feeling of 

 independence very strongly, and it is very creditable 

 to them. 



There is every reason to believe that in a short 

 time the character of the New Zealanders will be 

 entirely changed, and any one who wishes to see 

 what they were formerly must study them in the 

 interior, where they are still little influenced by 

 intercourse with us, which, I must repeat, has 

 been little advantageous to them. 



Suicides in consequence of wounded pride, or 

 of shame from having been found guilty of theft, 



